We had stayed at this hotel a few years ago...it was a great bargain with a coupon in the Traveler's Discount Guide and it's close location to Sanibel Island was a plus (since hotels on the island were at least twice as much).

So we returned last week for my boyfriend's birthday, planning on staying 5 days enjoying the beach, pool and relaxing. We are both hotel workers from Daytona and wanted nothing more than a peaceful, event free week without bothering the hotel staff, because we experience that at our own jobs.

Check in was a breeze, Trisha was helpful and delightful. We entered our first room and turned on the air conditioner and it wasn't working well. My boyfriend, who works hotel maintenance, opened the closet where the air conditioner was located announced that it was leaking all over the floor and there was a big puddle. No problem...we took it in stride. We know these things happen. We called down to the front desk and Trisha took care of us...giving us another room that was just fine. The rooms are well appointed, clean and the beds are comfortable. A nice detail oriented touch I always notice is the way the bathroom is set up. Towels folded all fancy, the first square of the toilet paper folded in a point, nice little shampoos, etc. ... very nice. The rooms have irons and full size ironing boards, blow dryers and lots of closet and storage space. The mini-fridge and microwave with a small bar sink is always handy. Our suite had two rooms, with two tv's and a nice view.

The next day we were heading out to the beaches of Sanibel (red tide and bacteria...complete with dead fish...not pleasant...but again...no problem...we took it in stride and collected some great shells and focused on the positives...deserted beaches) Before we left, I noticed my boyfriend's wallet on the table and announced "You're not going to leave your wallet out, are you?" Because, again, we work in hotels and we are cautious. He says that he doesn't want to take it with him, he is wearing his swim trunks, and because there was no money in it...just cards and regular guy wallet stuff...we decide to put it in a duffel bag...zip it up and put it in one of the closets. No room safes, mind you.

We return from the beach, get ready for dinner...and I actually make a comment about how impressed I am at the job housekeeping did. Fancy towel folding...the fact that we had all the pillows from both beds on the one bed we were using, and the housekeeper kept them that way, arranging them nicely. She even gave us extra coffee. Then my boyfriend goes to retrieve his wallet out of the duffel bag in the closet and it's not there. We search EVERYWHERE...even the car...even the microwave. It's nowhere. Well, there goes happy hour in Ft. Myers beach.

We go down to the front desk and Trisha is working again. We announce that our wallet has been stolen from the room. It's 4:30. The manager, Pat is not there. Gone home for the day. Trisha calls her at home and Pat instructs Trisha to tell us that she'll interogate the lock in the morning and file a report with their insurance company. What? Um...no...I want the police called. So Trisha calls the police for us. We tell Trisha (who was, again, very helpful and understanding) that we would like the manager to interogate the lock tonight...I want to know who was in my room...and who is responsible for our wallet missing. She calls the manager again. Nope...she's not coming in...but she'll send someone else to do it. They'll be here in 15 minutes. So she has us fill out incident reports and we wait for the police and Denise, the Front Desk Supervisor. Denise comes in and reads the lock. The police show up shortly after and we file a report. Only one person entered our room...the housekeeper and the police said they would turn the case over to the detectives and do what they can. Denise was helpful and apologized that this happened. We had to cancel two debit cards and 3 credit cards including the one that we paid for the hotel. Denise was helpful in making sure the charge went through before we had to cancel the cards. What a hassle. Along with cancelling the cards, my boyfriend has to get a new ID, insurance cards, etc. All we could think of is him ending up as one of those annoying identity theft commercials.

We, of course, request that we do not have the same housekeeper, and Denise assures us that the housekeeping supervisor will be present when a different housekeeper cleans our room tomorrow.

The next day we expect a call from the General Manager. Nope. We call down at 10:30. She's at lunch. Won't be back for awhile. Ok. We try to make something of the day and head down to the front desk, just to confirm that our room will be safe. (we, from that day on take EVERYTHING of any kind of value with us and lock it in our car...also a hassle) We got a little bit of an attitude from Housekeeping. First they said “nobody will go in your room” and then I reminded them about what Denise had suggested. We didn’t want to get into accusing anyone…we just didn’t feel comfortable with the same person and we were told there would be an extra person there in Management to supervise. Hey…we’re the victims here…remember? We went out for lunch, returned at 4:00...again asking for the General Manager...nope...she's gone home. When I asked when she would be there...I was told she works 9-5. But it's 4:00? Um..yeah, she went home early.

Our room was minimally serviced. No fancy towel folding...no toilet paper triangle, no coffee, just a pile of towels and a made bed.

So the next day was my boyfriend's birthday. My mother came out to spend a day and celebrate and we tried to put everything behind us and have a good day. Tried again to talk to the General Manager...not available. Does this woman even exist?

When we check out, our last night was put on my debit card along with one night on my mother's room. I get a reciept and everything looks fine. Again...the Manager is not there. Every day since the incident, we notice that as the housekeepers are cleaning the rooms, they are leaving the doors ajar by swinging open the privacy locks. So...either the housekeeper has our wallet or the housekeeper left the door open for someone else to take our wallet.

Now..to make matters worse...two days after we return I check my bank balance and they have charged me double for those last nights. I call and I am immediately told I must be mistaken...I ask for Denise and she figures out that...yes...I have been charged double. She apologizes and says that she will issue a credit immediatly.

So much for a drama-free vacation. I know things can happen...and we tried to take everything in stride...but c'mon...Pat...Ms. Invisible General Manager...you couldn't take five minutes to talk to the poor people that had their wallet stolen out of your hotel? Every General Manager with an ounce of customer service would have at least made an effort.

Unfortunately we will never return to that hotel. We will return to Sanibel and we will write a letter to corporate...and we will try not to let us ruin the positive memories we had on vacation. But we also know how a good hotel is run, and that ain't one of them.

I loved this hotel! The staff was terrific, the rooms were very clean, comfortable and spacious. It is conveniently located right near the bridge to Sanibel Island and I couldn't have been happier here!

Breakfast "entree's" change everyday. Sometimes the food is just awful, sometimes it's good. Anytime a place serves "eggs" that are all the same shape, size and consistency, you know it's not going to be the best cullinary experience.

The beds were very comfortable. The pool was great.

I really liked it here.

We booked this hotel because we wanted a place near Sanibel Island that would be nice and easy for us to get to the island and to Ft. Myers. We stayed there from August 31, 2005 to September 3, 2005.

The hotel wasn't bad, smelly or dirty, and it was the closest affordable hotel to Sanibel Island, but I booked it because the exterior and lobby photos looked new and nice so I was expecting the rooms to be newer and nicer. Once you got to the rooms, they looked older and average.

The pool is small, but they have a good breakfast buffet - pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, biscuits and such.

Overall, it was an average, clean, roomy, older, good value for the money room.

We stayed at the Country Inn July 22nd for one night. Our queen beds were large as the room, bathroom was ok, the pool seemed to be pleasant, the breakfast was hot and good. The hotel is not on the main road (but not far from it) so it was quiet, it has nice surroundings with lawn . Near Sanibel Island and not pricey but they accept dogs so possibility of barking as we experience...
Overall a nice stay.